A Method For Providing An Application Service In A Cellular Network

1. A method of providing at least one application service to a user equipment via an application service platform at an access node of a cellular network and a further application service platform at a further access node of the cellular network, the method comprising: determining a parameter indicative of a delay associated with transfer of context data from the application service platform to the further application service platform in one or more handover messages controlling a handover of the user equipment from the access node to the further access node, the context data being associated with at least one user session of the at least one application service provided to the user equipment; and depending on the determined parameter, controlling migration of the at least one user session from the application service platform to the further application service platform by: responsive to the parameter indicating that the delay is below a first threshold, initiating transfer of context data of the user equipment in said one or more handover messages; and responsive to the parameter indicating that the delay is above a second threshold, initiating transfer of the context data of the user equipment in one or more other messages than said one or more handover messages.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the parameter indicating that the delay is above a third threshold, adapting one or more parameters for controlling triggering the handover to the further access node and initiating transfer of the context data of the user equipment in the one or more handover messages.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the delay comprises a delay associated with one or more of: transferring the context data in the one or more handover messages from the access node to the further access node; and transferring the context data from the application service platform to the access node.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the determining of the parameter comprises measuring the delay associated with transferring the context data from the application service platform to the access node during transferring the context data from the application service platform to the further application service platform.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the parameter comprises estimating the delay based on one or more of: the at least one application service provided to the user equipment; subscription data associated with the user equipment; delays experienced in earlier processes of transferring context data in a handover message; and a data volume of the context data.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the access node determining the parameter and indicating the parameter to the further access node.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, depending on the parameter, the further access node controlling buffering of data associated with the at least one application service.

8. An access node for a cellular network, the access node comprising: an interface to an application service platform for providing at least one application service to a user equipment; and processing circuitry, the processing circuitry configured to: determine a parameter indicative of a delay associated with transfer of context data between the application service platform and a further application service platform at a further access node in one or more handover messages for controlling a handover of the user equipment between the access node and the further access node, the context data being associated with at least one user session of the at least one application service provided to the user equipment; and depending on the determined parameter, control migration of the at least one user session between the application service platform and the further application service platform by: responsive to the parameter indicating that the delay is below a first threshold, initiating transfer of context data of the user equipment in said one or more handover messages; and responsive to the parameter indicating that the delay is above a second threshold, initiating transfer of the context data of the user equipment in one or more other messages than said one or more handover messages.

9. The access node of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to, in response to the parameter indicating that the delay is above a third threshold, adapt one or more parameters for controlling triggering the handover to the further access node and initiate transfer of the context data of the user equipment in the one or more handover messages.

10. The access node of claim 8 , wherein the delay comprises a delay associated with one or more of: transferring the context data in the one or more handover messages from the access node to the further access node; and transferring the context data from the application service platform to the access node.

11. The access node of claim 10 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the parameter by measuring the delay associated with transferring the context data from the application service platform to the access node during transferring the context data from the application service platform to the further application service platform.

12. The access node of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured determine the parameter by estimating the delay based on one or more of: the at least one application service provided to the user equipment; subscription data associated with the user equipment; delays experienced in earlier processes of transferring context data in a handover message; and data volume of the context data.

13. The access node of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the parameter and indicate the parameter to the further access node.

14. The access node of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control, depending on the parameter, buffering of data associated with the at least one application service.

15. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a computer program product for controlling access node of a cellular network, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on processing circuitry of the access node, causes the access node to: determine a parameter indicative of a delay associated with transfer of context data from the application service platform to the further application service platform in one or more handover messages controlling a handover of the user equipment from the access node to the further access node, the context data being associated with at least one user session of the at least one application service provided to the user equipment; and depending on the determined parameter, control migration of the at least one user session from the application service platform to the further application service platform by: responsive to the parameter indicating that the delay is below a first threshold, initiating transfer of context data of the user equipment in said one or more handover messages; and responsive to the parameter indicating that the delay is above a second threshold, initiating transfer of the context data of the user equipment in one or more other messages than said one or more handover messages.